Water heater



June 14, 1932. Q HQFFERBERT 1,863,273

WATER HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 14, l932 o. HOFFERBERT WATER HEATER 2Sheets-Sheet Filed NOV. 23, 1929 Patented June 14, 1932 UNITEDn STATESPATENT OFFICE OBRIN HOFFEBBEBT, l' BEAVER DAI, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB TOMAILEAIBLE IRON RANGE COHPANY, A CORPORATION OF WISOON SIN warm nmrnaThis invention relates to improvements in water heaters.

Une obj ect of the invention is to provide a water heater of improvedconstruction which is of neat, compact arrangement and adapted to beinstalled in a kitchen, for instance, to provide a ready supplyof hotwater for domestic use. y

Another object relates to the provision of a water heater comprising aninsulated tank housed within a casing which encloses various tankaccessories, thereby presenting a cabinet-like appearance, but whichcasing renders such accessories readily accessible, in use, foradjustment, repair or removal.

A further object of the invention relates to the provision of a hotwater tank having a water circulating conduit which maintains thetemperature of the water substantially uniform throughout the tank, thuspreventing the accumulation of a relatively small quantity ofexcessively hot water at the top of the tank.

An additional object relates to the provision of a heating element forthe water which can be removed from the tank when desired and which issecured in positionby means on the exterior ofthe tank, thereby avoidingthe rusting or encrustations of the securing means by water depositedmaterial.

Another object of 'the invention relates to the provision of traps onthe inlet and outletpipes of the tank to retard the escape of heat byconduction through the water in the ipes. v

A further object relates to certain features of the casing constructionwhich avoids the use of visible rivets or bolts.

Further objects relate to various features of construction andarrangement of parts which will be apparent from a consideration of thefollowing specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a broken vertical sectional view of a water heater embodyingthe present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a heater;

broken front elevation of a Fig. 4 is a broken perspective view of thetank casing and certain related parts;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged broken sectional view illustrating a portion ofthe casing construction;

Fig. 6 is a broken perspective View of an upper portion of the casing;and

Fig. 7 is a broken vertical sectional view taken on line 7 -7 of Fig. 4.

In the drawings 10 indicates a water tank, which, in the embodimentshown, is provided with a concave bottom 11 and a convex top 12. Thetank is supported by a transverse centrally apertured partition 13 whichrests upon an angle iron frame structure 14 to vwhich the legs15 aresecured whereby the tank is supported at a convenient distance above theioor. The means for supplying heat to the Water in the tank 10, in theembodiment shown, comprises a pair of metal vblades 16 having resistancewire enclosed in the same, the particular construction of which forms nopart of the present improvements. The elements 16 pass through suitableapertures in the bottom clo'sing plate 17 having a central boss 18 whichextends into the ring 19 which is preferably welded to the outside ofthe bottom l1 in registration with an aperture 20 in the tank bottom.The plate \17 is secured to the ring 19 by means of screws 21 interposedbetweenwhich plate and ringr is a gasket- 22. A water tight connectionis thus eifected but without the screws coming in contact with the waterwhereby the same are made free from deposits of lime or other materialand are always in condition for convenient removal.

Water is supplied t0 the tank through a pipe 23 which is provided with atrap 24 comprising a hollow member having a depending baille 25. Thistrap retards the conduction of heatthrough the water of the pipe 23 backinto the supply line 26. The outlet of the tank in the particularconstruction shown is through a, T coupling 27 and short pipe 28 througha second trap 29 similar to trap 24 and exterior pipe 30 to the place ofuse.

Where the tank is employed in the kitchen, for instance, it is desirableto have an additional outlet for hot water comprising the conduit 31which extends downwardly along the side of the tank 10 and is providedwith a faucet 32 at its lower end, the faucet having a swinging nozzle33 whereby it can be swung outwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1to clear the casing hereinafter described.

To prevent the accumulation of excessively hot water at the top of thetank l0, a circulating pipe 34 is provided which extends from adjacentthe top of the tank to a point near the bottom thereof. It has beenfound that this pipe 34 effects the substantial equalization of thetemperature throughout the tank, the hot water passing downwardlythrough the pipe 34 to effect a mixture of the hot and cold water, therebeing but a few degrees variation in the temperature of the waterthroughout the tank.

A drain pipe 35 having a shut ofi' valve 36 at its lower end is providedfor 'draining the water from the tank when desired. The tank ispreferably provided with an outer casing indicated generally by thenumeral 37 comprising walls 38, corner posts 39 and top 40. The cornerposts are formed of sheet metal and as shown in Fig. 5, have laterallyextended flanges 41, the free edges 42 of which are bent backwardlytoward the post between which portions 41 and 42 a flange 43 of the sidewall 38 telescopes. This provides a sturdy construction which obviatesthe use of visible bolts, rivets or other fastening means. The top 40 ofthe casing may be of sheet metal and has depending anges 43 which extenddownwardly a short distance along the exterior of the walls 38. The topis held in position by means of spikes each having a rectangular shapedbody portion 44 and a head 45. Each spike is pressed down into theinterior of a post 39 and is held therein by friction, the heads 45overlying the corners of the top 4() and holding the latter in position.The bottom of the casing 37 rests upon the frame 14 and has clips 46welded thereto which are bent under the ver tical flange of the frame asshown in Fig. 7.

In the forward portion of the casing 37 a compartment 50 is provided inthe space available between the outer surface of the tank 10 and thefront wall 38. Within this compartment the faucet 32 is housed as wellas the thermostat casing 51, the thermostat having a heat responsivemember 52 which extends into the tank. Beneath the compartment 50 andseparated therefrom by the forward portiortof the partition 13 is asecond compartment 53 within which is positioned the electrical relay 54and the main switch 55.

A closure member 56 is provided in the compartment 53 having an aperture57 therein through which extends the switch lever 58 for manuallyclosing the circuit to the heating element 16. The closure member 56 maybe removably secured by means of bolts 56 whereby inspection of theaccessories Within compartment 53 may be made. The member 56, however,excludes dust, water, etc., from the switch and relay and theirconnections and also shields the Aelectrical equipment against children.

A door 59, which slides vertically within the casing 37, between thefront wall 38 and the inner panel 38a, is provided which, when down,closes both compartments 50 and 53. Vhen it is desired to obtain hotwater the door is lifted by means of a convenient handle 60 and thefaucet nozzle 33 swung outwardly.

Surrounding the tank 10 is insulating material 61, which, in the formshown (see Fig. 2) is in the form of a blanket. The vertical seam 62 ofthe blanket is preferably disposed adjacent one of the corners of thecasing 37 which corner is packed with additional insulating material 63to prevent the escape of heat through the seam 62. The traps 24 and 29,outlet pipe 31 and circulating pipe 34 are all enclosed within thecasing 37 and are surrounded byinsulating material whereby loss of heatthrough radiation is reduced to a minimum and the tank as a wholepresents a neat unencumbered cabinet-like appearance.

Although I have shown certain features of my improvements for thepurpose of illustration, it will be apparent that various changes may bemade therein without departing from the spirit of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A water heater comprising a tank, water heating means therefor, waterinlet and outlet conduits communicating with said tank and a hot watertrap in each of said conduits, said traps each comprising a receptaclehaving inlet and outlet ports, an off-set body portion and a baleinterposed between said ports and extending toward and terminating shortof the inner wall of said body most remote from said ports.

2. A water heater comprising a casing, a water tank supported therein,heating means for the water, said casing having a chamber beneath saidtank providing access to said heating means, said casing having acompartment in one side wall thereof, means for regulating said heatingmeans positioned in said compartment and a door for said secondcompartment, said door being slidable vertically within said casing.

3. A water heater comprising a tank, an electric heating element forsaid tank, current controlling means for said element, a casingenclosing and supporting said tank, said casing being spaced from saidtank, heat insulating material in said space, a compartment in -saidcasing extending inwardly thereof to said tank, a hot water faucet insaid compartment having a nozzle adapted to be swung 'outwardly of saidcompartment, the wall of said casing abovel said compartment having aninwardly spaced panel, and a door for said compartment slidable betweensaid wall and panel.

4. A water heater comprising a tank, an electric heating element forsaid tank, current controlling means for 4said element, a casingenclosing and supporting said tank, said casing being spaced from saidtank, heat insulating material in said space, a compartment in saidcasing extending from a wall thereof inwardly to said tank, a hot waterfaucet in said compartment having a nozzle adapted to be swung outwardlyof said compartment, and a door for said compartment adapted to beclosed when said Jfaucet is in inner position for concealing saidcompartment.

5. A Water heater comprising a water tank, an electric heating elementor said tank, a casing enclosing and supporting said tank, said casingbeing spaced from said tank, a compartment in the lower portion of saidcasing extending from said wall inwardly toward said tank, a hot wateroutlet for said tank positioned in said compartment, a vertical panel 1nsaid casing supporting electrical apparatus comprising a switch forcontrolling current to said heating element, a horizontal partitionbetween said outlet and apparatus for protecting the latter from waterfrom said outlet, and a door for said compartment for concealing saidcompartment and apparatus.

6. A Water heater comprising a tank, a casing supporting and enclosingsaid tank and having a said tank at the bottom thereof, a heatingelement for said tank accessible from said l chamber, a vertical panelat one side of said chamber for supporting electric apparatus comprisinga switch for controlling current to said element, a second panelconstituting a shield for said apparatus positioned inwardly of a wallof said'casing and in front of said switch, said second panel beingremovable to provide accesss to said apparatus, said second panel havingan opening therein, said switch having an operating portion projectingthrough said opening whereby said switch can be operated while saidsecond panel is in normal position, and a door adapted to be moved oversaid. panel to cover the same.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

ORRIN HOFFERBERT.

chamber providing access to

